Tories take a punishing in council elections across Sussex

The Tories have taken a punishing in the polls across Sussex losing overall control of several councils today (Friday May 3).

The overnight results in other parts of England were a sign of things to come in the county, with voters making their frustrations known about Prime Minister Theresa May’s leadership and the current Brexit stalemate.

Worthing Labour members celebrate doubling their number of councillors on the borough council

As the Tories lost seats, the Lib Dems and Greens made gains in many areas, and contrary to the overall national picture Labour fared well in many parts of Sussex.

The Conservatives lost their overall majorities on Arun, Chichester and Rother district councils after polling yesterday.

Labour went into yesterday’s polls as the second-largest party behind the Tories but still in control of the council. It finished first on 20 seats, one ahead of the Greens, who picked up a number of seats to finish on 19, with the Tories down to 14.